Sheriff and Coroner

Sheriff & Coroner

Blaine County Sheriff’s Office Serves the towns of Chinook, Harlem, Zurich, Hogeland, Turner and all rural Areas of Blaine County. We are responsible for the prevention of crime, civil process and coroner duties.

Sheriff: John ColbyUnder Sheriff: Chris Adair

Blaine County Sheriff Services:

Civil Services

Civil Department:
The Civil Department serves legal and judicial process papers within Blaine County including but not limited to court summons and complaints, small claims, garnishments, court issued writs, and subpoenas. The department additionally collects delinquent property taxes, levies on property and conducts court ordered sheriff’s sales. Civil process service is performed in strict compliance with Montana Code to ensure the accuracy of the service of legal documents, record keeping and returns to the court as mandated by law. Please be aware that the Civil Office does not give legal advice; only an attorney is allowed to give legal advice. This site is for information purposes only and should not be considered as legal advice. If you need help with a legal situation, please contact an attorney.

CIVIL FEES:

(a) For the service of summons and complaint on each defendant, $50.00
(b) For making a return of a summons for a person not found in the county, $20.00
(c) For levying and service each writ of attachment of execution on real or personal property, $75.00
(d) For service of attachment on the body or order of arrest on each defendant, $50.00
(e) For the service of an affidavit, order, and undertaking in claim and delivery, $50.00
(f) For serving a subpoena for each witness summoned, $50.00
(g) For serving writ of possession or restitution, $50.00
(h) For trial of the right of property or damages including all services, $50.00
(i) For taking bond or undertaking in any case authorized by law, $50.00
(j) For serving every notice, rule or order, for each person served, $50.00
(k) For copy of any writ, process or other paper when demanded or required by law, $2.00 for each page up to 10 pages, then $1.00 for each page
(l) For posting notices and advertising any property for sale on execution or under any judgment or order of sale, exclusive of cost of publication, $50.00
(m) For holding any sheriff’s sale for personal or real property on execution or under any judgment or order of sale, except that if a sale from Federal Court is accepted, then the fees for conducting sale, posting notice and publication shall be charged pursuant to Federal Statutes followed by the U.S. Marshals, $50.00
(n) For cancellation or postponement of sheriff’s sale, $30.00

SHERIFF’S INSTRUCTIONS or PRAECIPE

A signed Letter of Instruction directing the Sheriff to serve process or perform an enforcement action is required with all legal documents. Specific addresses of the person or business to be served are required to effect service. The Civil Division does not provide investigative services to determine the whereabouts of the person to be served. A home or work physical address for the person to be served must be provided by the party requesting service in the Sheriff’s Instruction or Praecipe.

Burn Permits

BURN PERMITS

Fire Burn permits are issued annually from January 01 through December 31st. They are available at the Sheriff’s Office. You must call the Sheriff’s Office at 357-3260 to obtain permission to burn. You must have a valid burn permit with you at the time of each burn. You must call the Sheriff’s Office when you are done with the burn. There is no burning allowed after sunset. Refer to your burn permit for further rules and regulations.

Fingerprinting

The Blaine County Sheriff’s Office provides this service to the public for a fee of $10 per fingerprint card. To be fingerprinted please call ahead of time to schedule an appointment. 406-357-3260. To be fingerprinted come to the Blaine County Sheriff’s office located at 420 Ohio St. in Chinook. Photo identification is mandatory. Fingerprints are done Monday through Thursday from 0800-5:00.